Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatr Anaesth
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2018
An in vitro evaluation of the influence of neonatal endotracheal tube diameter and length on the work of breathing.
Neonates, particularly premature babies, are often managed with endotracheal intubation and subsequent mechanical ventilation to maintain adequate pulmonary gas exchange. There is no consensus on the standard length of endotracheal tube. Although a short tube reduces resistance and respiratory dead space, it is believed to increase the risk of accidental extubation. There are not entirely coherent data regarding the effect of endotracheal tube length on work of breathing in infants. ⋯ In our infant lung model, a shorter tube resulted in a lower work of breathing and lower ventilator-generated peak inspiratory pressure.